A Decade of Impact: The Evolution of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada

In 2014, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) faced a growing challenge – how to secure sustainable, long-term funding for Para sport in Canada. While the CPC had long supported Canada’s Paralympians, its primary focus was on Games preparation, leaving a funding gap to support the further growth of Para sport development across the nation.

“We felt there was strong benefit to having a separate entity that was solely focused on charitable revenue generation. As much as CPC recognized the need for increased funding, there was no real infrastructure or staff dedicated to it at that time,” said Dean Brokop, Chief Philanthropic Officer of the CPC and Executive Director of PFC. “We realized that CPC needed to make it a priority if they wanted long-term success, which led to the establishment of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada.”

This recognition of the need for a strategic approach to fundraising led to the CPC leadership making a bold decision to establish the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC), a standalone charitable organization focused on providing a future where Canadians with a disability are offered ample opportunities to experience the transformative power of sport.

A primary motivation for PFC’s creation was the funding disparity between Olympic and Paralympic sport in Canada. After the 2010 Vancouver Games, Canada’s Olympic program benefited from a lasting financial legacy, while the Paralympic program was left without a similar long-term support system. Without adequate funding, many Para athletes faced significant challenges in accessing high-performance training, equipment, and coaching.

“Coming out of the Vancouver Games, there was an Olympic legacy, but nothing for Para sport. That had to change,” Brokop said. “And things really started to shift in 2010 when the Paralympic Games were held in Vancouver. The ceremonies sold out. BC Place Stadium was packed, and people were really starting to take notice.”

This shift gained even more traction with the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“London knocked it out of the park. It’s widely considered the best Paralympic Games ever,” Brokop shares.

Despite this momentum, interest in the global Paralympic Movement and learnings from the efforts of early Para sport philanthropy leaders like Hon. Joyce Fairbairn and Hon. Vim Kochar, a targeted approach was going to be required to ensure long term success.

“In the early days, we really focused on ensuring that we set up the Foundation properly,” Brokop recalls. “We believed that once we set that structure and governance, it exists. It stays, and then you can continue to raise and increase the funds beyond that.”

This strategic and calculated focus resulted in the Foundation being officially incorporated by early 2015, with its first three board members, Jim Westlake, Ellen Waxman, and Gaétan Tardif, leading the charge. According to Brokop, the Foundation’s credibility was critical in the early days, requiring strong leadership, donor trust, and a demonstrated ability to ignite real impact.

“We had to rely on the goodwill of those that were close to us,” Brokop said. “Family, friends, staff and board members were all the first to donate.”

This grassroots approach, fuelled by personal connections and CPC’s early corporate partners, was crucial for early fundraising success.

“Petro-Canada and Canadian Tire were two of CPC’s partners that stepped up early,” Brokop shared. “Our first campaign raised over $60,000 with no donor database. That was a huge moment in our story.”

The Foundation’s next challenge came in 2016 with the launch of the federal government’s Next Generation Athlete Develpoment program, which aimed to develop future Paralympians. The government committed $1 million annually to Para sport but required a matching commitment from CPC, something the organization simply couldn’t afford on its own at that time. This led to the launch of the ImagiNATION campaign, a pivotal initiative for the PFC.

“We created a campaign at the time called ImagiNation, which was our most ambitious campaign to date, through which we raised funds for the NextGen program, among other priorities,” Brokop shared. “I’m proud to say that since then we’ve been able to contribute $8 million to the program and that the Government of Canada has matched those funds. That’s $16 million the Canadian sport system and Para athletes have directly benefited from.”

This NextGen program funding continues to this day, which provides resources to develop Para athletes across Canada. The program is delivered in partnerships with National Sport Organizations (NSOs) to ensure that emerging Para athletes receive the coaching, training, and competitive opportunities needed to progress toward the world stage.

By investing in NextGen athletes, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada is helping to ignite a strong pathway for future Canadian Paralympians, ensuring that Canada remains a leader in Paralympic sport for years to come.

In 2024, PFC introduced the Paralympic Performance Recognition Program, ensuring Canadian Paralympic medallists receive the same financial rewards as their Olympic counterparts.

“The Paralympic Performance Recognition Program has become very personal to me,” Brokop shared. “It was something I felt was always of critical importance… Paralympians recognized the same way as their Olympic counterparts.

“I think we have contributed to ensuring that Canadian Para athletes are looked at as the elite athletes that they are,” Brokop said. “The feedback we’ve heard from so many athletes is that Performance recognition funding is nice, but it’s not the most important thing. They are so grateful that their performances and contributions are valued in the same way.”

Since its inception, PFC has played a key role in transforming the financial landscape of Para sport in Canada. The foundation’s flagship corporate fundraising event, the ParaTough Cup, has raised millions to support Para sport development across the country. Now, with the IGNITE campaign aiming to raise $35 million by 2028, PFC is set to expand its impact even further.

“The Paralympic Movement has never been more visible,” Brokop said. “We’re at a real turning point, and this is our moment to push for even greater impact.”

With an incredibly engaged and dedicated Board of Directors and a growing network of donors, partners, and advocates, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada is poised to continue its mission of ensuring that every Canadian Para athlete has the financial resources they need to succeed, now and in the future.

As the foundation celebrates its 10-year anniversary, its mission remains clear: to IGNITE the dreams of Canada’s Para athletes and ensure they have every opportunity to achieve greatness.

We need your support to IGNITE change through sport.

If you want to help IGNITE the future of Canadian Para sport, consider making a donation today. Your support will have a lasting impact on the next generation of Para athletes. Visit the Paralympic Foundation of Canada today to contribute and be part of building a brighter, more inclusive future for Canadian Para sport. Together, let’s IGNITE the future for Para sport in Canada.